1

would have a parallax at the fun of 5" in 100 years, making an annual parallax not more than 0.055 of a third.

Though the fun, or rather the fyftematic centre of gravity, has been confidered to revolve round another fun, yet it is more probable, that it is a concourse of fystems revolving about one common centre, whofe diftance from our fun is as before found. The most confpicuous, and confequently the nearest of the fixed ftars, may therefore be confidered as funs appertaining to this fyftematic congrefs, of which Aldebaran, Fomahaut, Aquila, Sirius, Arcturus, bright Orion, Deneb, Spica, Antares, Rigel, Procyon, Cor Hydra, Capella, Caftor and Lyra, are most probably members.

If we adopt the fuppofition of doctor Herschel, that the fyftematic orbit tends in the direction from 77° of right afcenfion to its oppofite 257°, and towards Hercules, the earth's axis will be nearly parallel to its plane, and of the above-mentioned stars, 5 will be inferior and 1 fuperior fyftems in the congrefs, of which the folar fyftem will be the fixth from the centre of motion.

But the relative distances of these systematic orbits, and the inclination of their planes with each other, cannot be determined from any laws or observations yet known. From their apparent fituation, as seen from the earth, and given on the plane of the ecliptic in fig. 4, and on the plane of the equator fig. 5, it is probable that their order from the centre, is as given in fig. 6; that is, Deneb, Regulus, Arcturus, Procyon, Caftor, Sun, Capella, Sirius, Aldebaran, Lyra, Aquila, Orion, Rigel, Spica, Hydra, Antares and Fomahaut.

It is not here pretended that the distance and time brought out is ftrictly true, ' a great number of obfervations are still neceffary to ascertain these facts. The true density, magnitude and distance of all the bodies compofing the folar system, have not yet been discovered, and confequently the real fituation of the fyftematic centre. But from the nature and circumftance of the subject, we are certain fuch things must be, as above demonftrated, tho' the particulars, as yet, cannot be specified. For the accomplishment of this part of the aftronomical science, aftronomers ought diligently to apply themselves to obferve the fixed stars of the first magnitude, in refpect to their variations, as those nearest the centre will have the quickest motion, and confequently the greatest variation, and vice verfa. The comets ought alfo to be attended to, as it is probable they are connecting bodies to the feveral fyftems which compofe the congrefs.

The diameter of the external orbit of the folar fyftematic congrefs, from a confideration of those of the folar fyftem, cannot be less than 40 billions or millions of millions of miles. Yet the centre of this amazing expanfe, containing 17 funs, with their revolving planets and worlds, is not at reft, but revolves round a common centre in conjunction with other concourfes.

The distance of the orbits of these congreffes from each other, cannot be lefs than 300 times the diameters of the external orbit of each refpective congrefs, or 12,000 billions of miles, nor the mean distance of the centre, lefs than 12 trillions. An amazing space, in the contemplation of which the human mind is loft, but which exifts ad infinitum through the infinitude of space. So ftupendous are the works of the Omnipotent, that whilst they attract the admiration and reverence, they amaze and astonish the mind of man, towards the eternal author of its ex istence.

These researches may be confidered more curious than useful; but whatever increases the reverence and gratitude to our Creator, improves the heart and mind of man; and whatever brings us acquainted with the morions of the stars, ferves so perfect geography and navigation; fciences, with which the well-being of arts

and

and commerce are greatly connected; and from thence the profperity of civilized

nations.

The ancients, efpecially the Indian Brahmins, and from them the Stoics, feem to have had an imperfect notion of this fyftematic motion. For the former taught that all nature was diffolved and re-produced every night and every day of Brahma. Each of which days and nights were fuppofed to laft a thousand revolutions of yoogs, or 4,320,000,000 years; making the duration of each yoog 4,320,000 years. A yoog therefore evidently denotes a fyftematic revolution, for if we fuppofe, as first taken in the above enquiry, the central body to be in proportion to the fun, as the fun is to all the planets, and that the planets, as known to the ancients, were, with the moon, only seven, and their mean period of revolu tion only 3,417 days; the revolution of the fyftem, according to this hypothefis, would be 4,380,948 years, which agrees remarkably with the Indian yoog.

The day and night of Brahma feem to denote an intire revolution of nature; and were, moft probably, the fuppofed revolution of a fyftematic congrefs round its centre of motion. According to them, fome remarkable change happened in the mundane fyftem, at the end of every yoog, and at the expiration of a day of Brahma all the creation would be diffolved and united with the great fpirit during the night or 4,320,000,000 years, and then be re-produced. Whether this curious hypothefis be founded in truth, is impoffible to determine, but from the nature and circumftance of things, it has a great probability. But however this may be, it is evident from the Gentoo aftronomical tables brought into Europe, that the ancient Brahmins in very early pe riods, were well acquainted with the effects and power of gravity, though the prefent race are entirely ignorant of it; and even their writers of the 10 laft cen turies fpeak of it but obfcurely.

NOTE S

• Wilkin's tranflation of the Bhagvat Geeta, Lect. 8.

Playfair on the Brahmin Aftronomy. Edinburgh Transactions, vol. 2,

POETRY.